“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe

Study Guide Questions

Directions: Answer the questions in complete sentences. Remember

to use details from the text.

1. How did the narrator change over the years? Why do you think he
became this way?

2. What did the narrator do to the cat after returning home intoxicated
one night? Why did he do this?

3. How did the narrator feel about what he did to the cat?

4. What are the reasons the narrator gives for hanging Pluto?

5. What happened the night he hung Pluto? Was this a coincidence?

6. Why did one wall remain after the fire?

7. How was the new cat different from Pluto? Explain what the difference
might represent.

8. Why did the narrator begin to dislike the new cat?

9. Why wouldn’t the narrator harm the new cat?

10.What did the narrator do to his wife in the cellar? Explain how this
happened and why it happened.

11.How did he conceal the body?

12.Why does the narrator blame the cat for his wife’s death?

13.Did the narrator regret killing his wife? Explain

14.Why does the narrator mention the construction of the walls and house
to the police?

15.How did the police find his wife’s body? What is the narrator’s future?